Stanley 748 / 748A Drill Review By: I.Ball
Category: Old Drills
Manufacturer: Stanley
Tool Type: Breast Drill
Model No: 748 / 748A
The Stanley 748 breast drill changed model number to 748A somewhere between
1960's to early 1970's (I'm trying to pin down a more exact date).
The Stanley breast drill 748 / 748A is a large hand drill fitted with a hardwood
side handle, a winder with a hardwood handle and a shaped breast plate.
The shaped breast plate is designed to be positioned comfortably at
the top of the chest, usually around the nipple area but wherever is
comfortable and stable.
This positioning of the drill against the body allows extra exertion
to be applied while maintaining good control. This control is further
assisted by holding the side handle to help maintain stability.
The Stanley breast drill 748 was advertised as ' "Continental" enclosed
gears - two speed'. The 748A was later advertised as an 'Engineer's Breast Drill'.
The gears on the Stanley 748 / 748A are hidden inside the central case to help
ensure the internal mechanism is kept clean and dry and as such the
gears should remain rust free. This feature is designed to keep the
tool working efficiently throughout its long life.
The 748 / 748A hand drill has the option of two different speeds available
at its disposal. The drill can operate with gear ratio 7.2-1 or 2.33-1.
The two different gear ratios cater for drilling into different materials
with different drill sizes.
The chuck has three internal jaws which lock onto drill bits with a
shank diameter of 0" - 1/2".
Once the drill piece is locked in place, the drill is operated by repeatedly
turning the cranked arm round and round.
This hand powered drill is particularly useful as a back-up for situations
where there is no power for power tools or when the battery packs of
a power tool have run out.
The Stanley 748 / 748A drill is finished with a grey hammer and black enamel
with the Stanley name running down the central case.
The 748 breast drill was originally the most expensive of the hand drills
and breast drills.
Overall Length: 452mm (17 3/4 inch)
1958 - 1993>
Ljotulfson - I purchased one of these back in the early 1980s and have a STANLEY
March 1st 1993 Tool Catalogue with the prices at that time. It retailed at £77.62
(List Price) £91.20 RRP (inc. VAT).
In the accompanying photograph it has a keyed chuck which also appears in the Garret
Wade book of Tools published in 2001. It's a great hand drill to have around in
the workshop and can be obtained easily from sellers on ebay at bargain prices
compared to the £35.00 price I had to pay thirty odd years ago!
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Ljotulfson - I'm restoring an original 748 from the the 1960s and see it was numbered
as such in the 1964 Buck & Hickman Tool Catalogue.
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Brian - I presently have a Stanley 748A drill, which I acquired after my father
passed away. Although I have two corded 1/2" electric drills and a 3/8" cordless,
I find it's often best for quickness when doing one or a couple of holes to use
the Stanley hand drill, and of course, very far away from any electrical outlet!
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